Poker Stars seeks to provide Delaware with gaming platform.

Delaware has happily approved online gaming and now the state run lottery is eager to get it into action. This means looking for the right companies to supply them the much-needed gaming software that will get them going. Recently, the lottery has announced requests for proposals in hopes that they would be going live as early as September 30 of this year. Sounds like they are looking for a company that can give them the full package with all the bells and whistles, “All proposed components of the Solution must be delivered, installed, implemented, acceptance tested and ready to be operational by the agreed-upon schedule,” the request stated. In total that means the company must already have everything in place and literally has a plug and play set up.

A company like Poker Stars could fit this bill and get the lotteries going quickly. In total the state lottery is looking for complete and ready to go technology base or the full package deal including: Backend Technology Platform Provider, Operations Management Provider, Game Content Vendors, and Support Services Vendors. But the legislation in Delaware is quite frankly looking for everything you’d find in a land based casino as far as games go.

The jurisdiction approved the full suite of casino products. This is an area that might have Poker Stars becoming the runner up to the other companies since they just focus on poker. Other companies vying for the vendor contract include such industry heavy weights as 888, Amaya, SHFL Entertainment, IGT, Stan James and Continent 8 technologies. One other requirement is that that companies must have experience in North American and European markets.

And they stress the requirement for all the games to be provided by the vendor, “Game content vendors develop and offer games that are found in a typical casino environment”. This includes all the major casino games: Bingo, keno, video lottery games, poker, and casino table games. They also must sign and agree to a schedule set out the state lottery company. This should not be a problem for Poker Stars since they are a veteran in the industry and had at one time been operating in the US and definitely know the market and what it takes to get a large sized poker software platform integrated and running.

By US standards and sizes, Delaware is a small state with a population of only 917, 0923 people. Obviously, they are looking to the future and most likely want to become a hub for the online gaming industry in the US marketplace. They have competition early in the game with both Nevada and New Jersey looking to become the “gold standard” for the US online gaming industry as well.

The oral presentation of their application from all the 14 bidding companies including Poker Stars will take place from April 1st to the 12th. It is an interesting time right now for Poker Stars as they are currently looking at purchasing a major land based casino in New Jersey, but are getting major opposition from the American Gaming Association.

Industry experts will be looking to see which company comes out on top of the 14 applicants and becomes the official provider for the state of Delaware. Getting that account will surely give them a leg up when other states pass legislation and start asking around for recommendations on providers. The question is, can Poker Start provide the complete gaming package, not just poker?

After all, online gaming in the US will eventually include the entire gaming experience and those companies that already provide it will come out on top and the provide the best deal. Pick a card…or in this case, an online gaming provider that has the best hand.